Thailand News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.

  • Continuous rainfall, with isolated heavy showers, forecast for most of Thailand | Thaiger

    Continuous rainfall, with isolated heavy showers, forecast for most of Thailand

    The Thai Meteorological Department is forecasting plenty of rainfall for pretty much all of Thailand in the coming days. The TMD says the north-east, east, south and central region, including Bangkok, are all in for “continuous rainfall” and some isolated heavy showers. The heavy rain is expected to continue until around October 9, as a category 2 tropical depression in…

  • Pattaya woman accused of prostituting granddaughter to repay gambling debts | Thaiger

    Pattaya woman accused of prostituting granddaughter to repay gambling debts

    A 16 year old girl has been taken into care, amid reports her grandmother forced her to sleep with a loan shark and a friend to repay the older woman’s gambling debts. The 57 year old Pattaya woman faces charges of human trafficking and prostitution and a warrant has been issued for her arrest, as well as that of the…

  • “No more coups”, Thailand’s new military commander | Thaiger

    “No more coups”, Thailand’s new military commander

    There will be no more coups d’état, the new military commander in chief General Chalermpol Srisawat says. He vows that the army will no longer get involved in politics and says the military is in place to protect the country. His pronouncement has been made on the 44th anniversary of the Thammasat University Massacre, a pivotal event in Thai politics…

  • Thailand News Today | Business people exemptions, road checkpoints, Phuket delay | October 6 | Thaiger

    Thailand News Today | Business people exemptions, road checkpoints, Phuket delay | October 6

    Daily TV news on The Thaiger. Up to date information, delivered to you, free. Thai government considers easing restrictions for foreign business travellers The Thai government is considering further easing entry restrictions for foreign travellers coming to conduct business in the Kingdom. Up to date, around 11,000 businesspeople and work permit holders have been granted entry by the Centre for…

  • 10 new Covid-19 cases detected in quarantine, all reported as asymptomatic | Thaiger

    10 new Covid-19 cases detected in quarantine, all reported as asymptomatic

    Thailand health officials reported 10 new Cvoid-19 cases detected mandatory state quarantine for those entering the country, adding up the total number of reported cases to 3,600. All cases were reported as asymptomatic at the time the results were confirmed. The cases came from Hong Kong, the United States, Kuwait and Russia, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.…

  • Thai government considers easing restrictions for foreign business travellers | Thaiger

    Thai government considers easing restrictions for foreign business travellers

    The Thai government is considering further easing entry restrictions for foreign travellers coming to conduct business in the Kingdom. Currently, around 11,000 businesspeople and work permit holders have been granted entry by the Centre for Covid-19 Administration Situation since they started allowing some foreigners back into the country after July. All arrivals have to submit to a mandatory 14 day…

  • New police chief clarifies suspension of police checkpoints | Thaiger

    New police chief clarifies suspension of police checkpoints

    Just days into his post, the new Chief of the Royal Thai Police, has clarified his decision to suspend roadside checkpoints. Suwat Jangyodsuk says the new rule only applies to drink-driving checkpoints, which he says must first pass transparency checks, and shows that tests of blood alcohol levels return accurate results. Royal Thai Police spokesman Yingyot Thepchamnong says all checkpoints…

  • 7 foreign teachers found working illegally at Sarasas school | Thaiger

    7 foreign teachers found working illegally at Sarasas school

    The Sarasas private school network continues to find itself in hot water, with revelations that 7 foreign teachers at one school have been working illegally. All 7 have been found to be employed without work permits at Sarasas Witaed Sainoi Pitiyakarn School, in the central province of Nonthaburi, around half an hour outside central Bangkok. All 42 Sarasas schools are…

  • Thailand to set aside 3 billion baht for first doses of Covid-19 vaccine | Thaiger

    Thailand to set aside 3 billion baht for first doses of Covid-19 vaccine

    Thailand’s National Vaccine Committee is to request nearly 3 billion baht in order to procure enough doses of a Covid-19 vaccine for half its population, beginning with frontline healthcare workers. The committee, chaired by Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, wants to set aside 2.93 billion baht to be able to purchase adequate supplies of the vaccine from overseas. The aim is…

  • Head of economic recovery panel warns of collapse if borders not re-opened now | Thaiger

    Head of economic recovery panel warns of collapse if borders not re-opened now

    A businessman heading up an economic recovery panel is warning the government that unless Thailand’s borders are re-opened for the last quarter of the year, the country is headed for total economic collapse. The Bangkok Post reports that Pailin Chuchottaworn says the gradual easing of Covid restrictions in recent months is not enough, insisting the country must re-open to international…

  • Continuous rainfall expected throughout Thailand this week | Thaiger

    Continuous rainfall expected throughout Thailand this week

    Continuous rainfall is expected throughout parts of Thailand this week with the potential for flash floods in some areas – after all, it is the wet season and, statistically, October is the wettest month of the year. The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning saying an active low pressure cell in the South China Sea is likely to…

  • Phuket man shoots himself in the head in suspected suicide | Thaiger

    Phuket man shoots himself in the head in suspected suicide

    A 47 year old Phuket man has shot himself dead, in what police suspect is a case of suicide. Nation Thailand reports that Kittichai Musiksong’s body was found on a couch at a property in the Taladyai sub-district. He had a bullet wound to his right temple and a blank gun model was found on the floor. The blank gun…

  • Sarasas teacher, who allegedly abused students, files complaint against student’s parents for assault | Thaiger

    Sarasas teacher, who allegedly abused students, files complaint against student’s parents for assault

    After being fired and charged with assault, a Nonthaburi teacher has now filed a police complaint against a student’s parents for allegedly assaulting her. The teacher, Onuma Ploadprong at the Sarasas Witaed Ratchaphruek School, says the parents assaulted her after they saw classroom surveillance camera footage of her allegedly pushing and hitting kindergarten students. The teacher is represented by the…

  • Koh Phangan hotel probed after complaints of cultural appropriation for Angkor Wat design | Thaiger

    Koh Phangan hotel probed after complaints of cultural appropriation for Angkor Wat design

    A Koh Phangan hotel is saying sorry for using Cambodia’s culture and famous landmarks, including the popular Angkor Wat, in what looks to be a case of cultural appropriation, misusing or misrepresenting a culture and profiting off it. An investigation into the claims of cultural appropriation has been launched by Surat Thani Culture Office. Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is also…

  • 2 new cases of Covid-19, both Thai returnees from UK and South Africa | Thaiger

    2 new cases of Covid-19, both Thai returnees from UK and South Africa

    Thailand has confirmed 2 new cases today of asymptomatic Covid-19, both Thai returnees from the UK and South Africa. One 27 year old Thai student had tested positive on Friday after arriving from the UK last Monday. She was transferred to a quarantine facility in Samut Prakarn Hospital after receiving the positive results. The other case was also a 19…

  • Poll shows large majority believe child abuse at schools is not okay | Thaiger

    Poll shows large majority believe child abuse at schools is not okay

    A new poll finds the vast majority of Thais believe child abuse at schools is not okay. The Suan Dusit Rajabhat University Poll, or Suan Dusit Poll asked 1,896 people nationwide from September 29 – October 2, to gather their opinions on the recent spate of reported abuses of children in Nonthaburi and other Bangkok schools. (The Thaiger believes it’s…

  • Bangkok Airways offering up to a 20% discount to certain groups of Thais | Thaiger

    Bangkok Airways offering up to a 20% discount to certain groups of Thais

    Bangkok Airways is offering 10 to 20% off its standard rates to certain groups of Thai citizens. The demographic groups are split into 5 categories: senior citizens who are 60 years old or over, undergraduates which include students and teachers, disabled persons, travel-related professionals and government officials. All groups will receive 20% discounts except government officials who will receive 10%.…

  • Pro-democracy leaders banned from speaking at Thammasat University massacre anniversary event | Thaiger

    Pro-democracy leaders banned from speaking at Thammasat University massacre anniversary event

    3 pro-democracy leaders have been sidelined from speaking at this year’s Thammasat University Massacre 44th anniversary forum. Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, co-leaders of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration and Arnon Nampa, a human rights lawyer, were apologetically singled out on committee member Krisadang Nutcharus’ Facebook post yesterday. He says university executives did not offer an explanation…

  • Skål International Bangkok’s helps to repatriate a mother and her teacher son | Thaiger

    Skål International Bangkok’s helps to repatriate a mother and her teacher son

    by Andrew Wood A mother’s plight to rescue her 23 year old son, John de Villiers, who was stranded in Asia and his mother’s wish to return him safely home to South Africa, led to a fantastic story that has to be told. The amazing story involved using key contacts available via Skål International’s global reach, embassies across 3 continents,…

  • 8 new cases of Covid reported today, all asymptomatic and in quarantine | Thaiger

    8 new cases of Covid reported today, all asymptomatic and in quarantine

    Thailand officials have reported 8 new Covid-19 cases from 5 different countries today, with all cases being asymptomatic and in discovered whilst the recently arrived passengers were in quarantine. The new cases were from Russia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, the US, and India. The 35 year old Indian man was on the same flight as 8 previously confirmed cases and…

  • More evidence of abuse found on Nonthaburi private school’s CCTV cameras | Thaiger

    More evidence of abuse found on Nonthaburi private school’s CCTV cameras

    Parents say they have found more evidence of their children being abused on CCTV at Nonthaburi’s Sarasas Witaed Ratchaphruek School. Ronnarong Kaewphet, lawyer and chairman of the Justice-seeking Advocacy Network accompanied the parents of 10 students to the police station to file charges against the teachers that were seen allegedly beating up the students. “Parents saw CCTV footage of two…

  • Chiang Mai students scammed into buying sold-out concert tickets | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai students scammed into buying sold-out concert tickets

    A group of Chiang Mai students thought they were getting a good deal, but were scammed into buying sold-out concert tickets by an online ticket scalper. The 4 students, who remain unnamed, transferred almost 4,000 baht to a Twitter account, only later to be blocked by the account holder and losing their money. The students thought they were buying the…

  • New police chief stops drink-driving checkpoints over corruption issues | Thaiger

    New police chief stops drink-driving checkpoints over corruption issues

    Thailand’s new police chief has temporarily placed a stop on drink-driving checkpoints over alleged corruption issues in the police department. Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk made the announcement at a meeting yesterday, just a day after starting his new position. “There must not be roadside examination. It must be done at a hospital. Above all so that people can have confidence that…

  • Teacher blames stress over dog killing for slapping student | Thaiger

    Teacher blames stress over dog killing for slapping student

    A teacher in the northeastern Buriram province has reportedly blamed slapping a student on being stressed after killing a dog accidentally with his car. The teacher, who works at a famous school in the province, allegedly slapped Fuse, a grade 8 student, after he found him waiting to go on stage to sing for retired teachers. Fuse was reportedly confused…

  • Thailand News Today | Prison release?, Pattaya Makeover, 6 new Covid cases | October 2 | Thaiger

    Thailand News Today | Prison release?, Pattaya Makeover, 6 new Covid cases | October 2

    Justice Minister proposes releasing chronically ill inmates to reduce prison overcrowding In an effort to reduce overcrowding in Thailand prisons, the Justice Ministry is looking into allowing chronically ill inmates to be released on a royal pardon. There’s also talk of shortening sentences for those incarcerated on drug charges. Overcrowding has been a problem at Thailand’s prisons, especially now more…

  • BTS release ‘Be’ on November 20, their production company valued at US$4 billion | Thaiger

    BTS release ‘Be’ on November 20, their production company valued at US$4 billion

    “Even in the face of this new normality, out life goes on and imparts a message of healing to fans and to the world.” Big Hit, the label behind South Korea’s mega pop outfit BTS, have announced that pre-orders have already started this week and general release of their new album is due on November 20. They’ve described the highly…

  • Thailand’s first seaplane looks towards commercial production | Thaiger

    Thailand’s first seaplane looks towards commercial production

    Thailand hasn’t had a lot of success lately with its big jets serving the national carrier, but they’re looking a lot more nimble and innovative in the area of smaller aircraft design and manufacture. Thailand’s first home-grown seaplane has been now successfully tested and the Thailand Science Research and Innovation, or TSRI, is looking into getting the NAX-5 seaplane commercially…

  • Man allegedly abducted ex-girlfriend, posted photos of her handcuffed | Thaiger

    Man allegedly abducted ex-girlfriend, posted photos of her handcuffed

    Police are tracking down a man who allegedly abducted his ex-girlfriend and holding her captive, threatening to kill her. The 40 year old man allegedly posted photos of his 18 year old ex-girlfriend, handcuffed with a message to the woman’s family, saying he will kill them if they report to police. The woman has been missing since Tuesday. Her 19…

  • PM pledges to protect Thailand’s natural resources at virtual biodiversity summit | Thaiger

    PM pledges to protect Thailand’s natural resources at virtual biodiversity summit

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has said he’ll do his best to protect the country’s natural resources and tackle the issue of biodiversity losses in Thailand. He was speaking at a UN biodiversity summit, being held online. The term biodiversity encompasses all living organisms, whether plant, animal, fungi or micro-organisms. According to a report in Nation Thailand, the PM acknowledges the…

  • Thailand to cut down on uninsured vehicles on the road | Thaiger

    Thailand to cut down on uninsured vehicles on the road

    Thailand’s Land Transport officials are trying to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road driving without compulsory car or motorbike insurance. Those without valid insurance will not be able to renew their vehicle registration. To track insurance, an interactive data base is being set up by the Office of Insurance Commission, and the Department of Land Transport. The…